Can closing machine



May 28, 1940- J. M. HoTHERsALL CAN CLOSING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ENTO555g?? ATTORNE J. M. HoTHERsALL CAN CLOSING MACHNE May 28,` 1940.

Filed Dec. 50, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q QQQQQQQQQ QQQQQ A QQ Q QQQQQWNOQlNVENTO Patented- 2 8, 1940 UNiTEo STATES CAN CLOSING MAcnTNE John M.Hothall, Brooklyn, N. Y., assigner to American C Company, New York, N.Y., av

corporation o New Jersey Application December 30, 1936, Serial No.248,643

' 'i claims. icl. sis-36.5)

The present invention relates to a machine for closing or sealing nbrecontainers or cans by a seaming of a flbre cover to a fibre can body andhas particular reference to 'a squeezer head of the jaw type which isheated to make effective a confined adhesive within the joint tofacilitate more effective closing of the can.

An object of the invention isv theprovision of a fibre can closingmachine wherein a can cover -1o is united with a `muy in-'a folded andglued seam formed by a squeezing together of the can parts in a squeezerhead which is heated to condition the adhesive so that the resultingseam will be tight and secure;-

l5 Ainother object is the provision of'. s uch a machine wherein thesqueezer headoperates on the jaw principle and is heated by electricityso that it will perform its seaming or can closing. function in aneilicient and econcnical manner.

`30 Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged horizontal sections taken substantiallyalong the respective lines 2`2 and 3-3 in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the upper end of a fibre cansealed on the closing ma- 35 chine of Fig. 1.

As a preferred embodiment of the instant invention the drawingsillustrate the principal parts of a can closing machine which is adaptedto se cure a preferably square and fiat fibre can cover,

`40 end or top A (Fig. 4) to a preferably square fibre can body B in aseam C by a folding of a body flange D into holding engagement with thecover A. By way of example, the can illustrated is that now generallyused for containing milk and.

45 disclosed in my United States Patent 2,085,979, f-issuedfJuly 6,1937, on Container. The seam of thecanfi's preferably bonded with 'athermoplastioadliesive which may be on the cover or on the body'ilange,or may be on both. In any case,

I 50 theadhesive is preferably dry when the cover is placed in positionon the can body.

'I'he can body of this exemplary container is formed with a necked-inledge or seat E disposed adjacent the body flange D and extendingentire- 55 ly around the upper endof the can. Prior to assembling thecoverwlth the body the flange D is in a vertical position as shown 'indotted lines in Fig. 4. When the cover is in assembled posi tion withthe body it rests on top of the ledge E and is temporarily held there bya crimping or' 5 bending over of the body flange D. The bent flange,however, does not remain in contact with the cover but partially springsback extending at an angle thereto because of the natural spring in thefibre. It is in this partly open position when the can and its cover areintroduced into the closing machine.

The can cover A is also provided with a dispensing opening F which isadapted to be closed by a hinged closure element G-after seaming of canand cover. The closure element is already secured to the cover by asuitable operation not a part of this invention and during the seamingoperation is in a verticalposition where it will not interfere with theseaming. In fact, the closure element is in its raised position when thecan and its cover are introduced into the machine.

In the machine the adhesive is partially melted to bring it into a tackycondition and simultaneously-with this melting operation the body flangeD is bent down onto the cover A, the flange, the cover and the ledge Ebeing squeezed tightly together while the adhesive is tacky therebyproducing a tight folded seam in which its parts are bonded together. 3o

In the can closing machine, the can to be closed is supported in anuprightposition on a non-revolving but vertically movable lifter plateil (Fig. 1). The can is properly centralized as to the plate by a pairof angularly disposed guide rails l2 carried thereby and against whichthe can may be suitably located..

'Ihe lifter plate il is carried on the upper end of a vertical rod i3mounted in a bearing i4 formed ori a bracket arm I5 projecting from a 40frame i6 which may be the main frame of the machine. The rod and itsplate are lifted vertically in any suitable manner in time with theother movable parts of the machine.

As the can is brought into its raised position, the angularly bent,angeD of the can body engages with a non-rotating anvil or chuck I8 of asqueezer head generally indicated by the numeral 2|. It is this chuckwhich're-bends the flange D down fiat against the cover A. The

holding pin projects into the dispensing opening F of the cover A.

'Ihe chuck I8 -is also adapted to strip the can out of the seaming headafter it has been closed. For this purpose the chuck is formed on thelower end of a vertical chuck shaft 25 which is carried in a head sleeve26 mounted in a slide bearing 21 formed on the main frame I6. The upperend of the chuck shaft extends above the sleeve and is connected by apin and slot con-' nection to a bifurcated inner end of a level` arm 29.

Intermediate its length the lever arm is mounted on a pivot pin 3|secured to a lug 32 extended up from the main frame IB. At its outer endthe lever arm is connected to a link 33 which is adapted to be actuatedin any suitable manner in time with the other moving parts of themachine for rocking the lever arm at the proper time.

While the can is held against the chuck |8 the thermoplastic adhesive onthe can body and/or on its cover is reduced to the tacky condition by anannular electric induction coil 35 which surrounds the chuck and is inspaced relation thereto. The coil is secured to the inner verticalsurface of an inverted dish or cup shaped insulator member or casing 36which is disposed in a recess 31 formed in a stationary head housing 38projecting out from the frame I6. The insulator provides a lining forthe housing recess. This insulator is clamped in place by a stainlesssteel ring cam 39 which is secured by bolts 4| to the head housing, thebolts extending Vthrough both the ring cam and the insulator.

Electric energy is supplied to the coil 35 from any suitable source ofsupply of such energy by way of lead wires 43, Il which connect with thecoil. This energy flows through the coil, setting up an induced currentin the stainless steel parts in the head housing and also in the chuck|8. 'I'he housing itself is of iron which offers less resistance toheating by induced currents and it is shielded against heating byinduction from the stainless steel parts by the insulator 36 so thatsubstantially only those parts immediately adjacent the glued portionsof the can and the cover will be heated to any great extent. It is thisinduced heat which conditions the thermoplastic adhesive for the sealingeffect.

Simultaneously with this heating action the body flange D, the cover A,and the ledge E of the can are squeezed tightly together and are fullybonded by the adhesive. This squeezing action is effected by a pair ofsqueezer jaws 5| located inside the head housing 38. The lower portionsof the jaws are disposed between the ring cam 39 and the chuck I8.

The lower portions of the squeezer jaws 5| are formed as L-shaped halfmolds, each half mold surrounding two sides of the can. The outsidesurfaces of the molds are preferably curved.

That portion of the molds adjacent the ring cam r -is formed with asloping cam surface 52 which engages against a corresponding sloping cam-surface 53 formed on the inner surface of the ring cam. At their lowerends the molds are formed with can engaging hooks 54 which are as wideas the molds.

The upper ends of the squeezer jaws extend above the head housing 38 andare movably mounted on pivot pins 56 (Figs. 1 and 2) secured in a hollowannular block 51 formed on the lower end of the head sleeve 25. Abovetheir pivotal engagemeut'with the plus 56, the squeezer jaws arechamfered as at 53. This permits outward rocking movement of the jaws ontheir pivot pins. Intermediate their length the jaws are formed withhorizontal bores 6| housing compression springs 62 which tend to spreadthe jaws apart at the bottom. This holds the cam surfaces 52, 53 incontinuous engagement.

The jaws are adapted to be vertically lowered and raised in time withthe entrance and discharge of the cans into and from the head. For thispurpose the upper end of the head sleeve 25 is formed with an annulargroove 55. Pins Si project into the groove from two sides and these pinsare secured in a bifurcated end 51 of a rocker arm 68. The rocker arm ismounted on a pivot pin 69 secured in the lug 32. At'its outer end therocker arm connects with the upper end of a link 1| which is operated intime with the other moving parts of the vmachineto raise and lower thejaws.

At the time the can is lifted and as itsupper end enters the headhousing 38, the squeezer jaws 5| are in a lowered and spread apartposition as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. After a predetermined cycleof the machine during which the can parts are heated as described above,the jaws are raised vertically by the rocker arm link 1|. This upwardmovement of the jaws results in a sliding of the jaw cam surfaces 52along the stationary ring cam surfaces 53. This moves the half moldportions of the jaws around the upper end of the can as the jaws travelupward.

During this closing in movement, the hook sections 54 of the jaws engageunder the can ledge E and cooperate to squeeze the ledge, the cover A,and the body ange D against the chuck IB with the heated adhesivetherebetween. It is this squeezing action that bonds these can and coverparts together in the finished seam C.

After the seam C is formed the chuck I 3, the iaws 5|, and the lifterplate move down in unison under the influence of the lever arm 23, therocker arm 58 and the lifter plate rod I3. The jaws move down andsimultaneously spread apart to their original dotted line position shownin Fig. 1 and they then clear the can seam. The chuck in moving downwith the jaws positively strips the can out of the head and thus insuresthat the can moves down with the lifter plate. The lifter plate thusreturns the closed can to its original lowered position where it may bedischarged in any suitable manner.

I It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the formhereinbefore described beingmerely a preferred embodiment therof.

I claim:

1. In a can closing machine adapted to seal a fibre can-cover onto afiber can body by an interfolding of parts thereof with an interposedthermoplastic adhesive, said cover having a dispensing opening and aclosure element hinged adjacent thereto, thecombination of a squeezerhead including squeezer jaws and an interposed chuck for producing aseam by a squeezing therebetween of can and cover parts held in saidsqueezer head in engagement with said chuck, means in said squeezer headfor heating said can parts and the adhesive therebetween, and meanscarried by said chuck and adapted to enter the dispensing open ing ofsaid cover for vholding said hinged closure element away from said coverduring the seam' forming operation.

2. In a can closing machine adapted to seal a fibre can cover onto aiibre can body by an interfolding of parts thereof with an interposedthermoplastic adhesive; said cover having a dispensing opening and aclosure element hinged adjacent thereto, the combination of a squeezerhead for producing a seam by a squeezing together of can and coverparts, a chuck for holding a can to be closed in said squeezer head,means in said squeezer head for heating said can parts and the adhesivetherebetween, and means carried by said chuck and adapted to enter thedispensing opening of said cover for holding said hinged closure elementaway from said cover while the latter vis being seamed to said can body.

3. In a can closing machine adapted to seal a iibre can cover onto aiibre can body by an interfolding of parts thereof with an interposedthermoplastic adhesive, said cover having a dispensing opening and aclosure element hinged adjacent thereto, the combination of a squeezerhead including squeezer jaws and an interposed chuck for producing aseam by a squeezing therebetween of can and cover parts, a lifter platefor raising a can to be closed into said squeezer head in, engagementwith said chuck, means for moving said squeezer jaws into engagementwith the can and cover parts to be seamed, an electric induction coil insaid squeezer head for heating said can parts and the adhesive toproduce an interfolded seam which is bonded by said adhesive, and meanscarried by said chuck and adapted to enter the dispensing opening of.said cover for holding said hinged closure element out of engagementwith the cover during the seam forming operation.

4. In a can closing machine adapted to seal a libre can cover onto a brecan body by an interfolding of parts thereof with an interposedthermoplastic adhesive,.the combination of a chuck, a lifter plate forsupporting and for raising a can to be closed into engagement with saidchuck, squeezer jaws for squeezing parts of the can and of the coverinto engagement with said chuck to produce a seam, means for moving saidsqueezea` jaws into seam engaging position, and means adjacent saidchuck and said squeezer jaws for heating the can parts and the adhesivetherebetween, said moving means `being operative to engage said squeezerjaws with said can body and cover after the latter have been raised bysaid lifter plate. into engagement with said chuck.

5. In a can closing machine adapted to seal a fibre can cover onto afibre can body by an interfolding of parts thereof with an interposedthermoplastic adhesive, the combination of a chuck,

a lifter plate for supporting -and for raising a can to be closed intoengagement with said chuck, a

pair of half mold squeezer jaws surrounding said chuck for squeezingparts of the can and of the cover into engagement with said chuck toproduce a seam', elements for moving said squeezer jaws into seamengaging and producing position, and means adjacent said chuck and saidsqueezer jaws for heating the can parts and the adhesive therebetween,said moving elements being operative to engage said squeezer jaws withsaid can body and cover after the latter have been raised by said lifterplate into engagement with said chuck.

6. In a can closing machine adapted to seal a fibre can cover onto afibre can body by an interiolding of parts thereof with an interposedthermoplastic adhesive, the combination of a stationary head housing andchuck vertically reciprocable relative thereto, a lifter plate forsupporting and for raising a can to be closed into engagement with saidchuck, pivoted squeezer jaws disposed within said housing for squeezingparts of the can,and of the cover into engagement with said chuck toproduce a seam, devices for moving said squeezer jaws along a path oftravel which is parallel with said can, an insulator casing containedwithin said housing, a cam member housed within said casing for shiftingsaid squeezer jaws into seam producing position while said jaws aremoving parallel with said can, yieldable means for holding said jaws inengagement with said can, and electrical heating means also housedwithin said insulator casing and surrounding said chuck and saidsqueezer jaws for heating the can parts and the adhesive therebetween.

'7. In a. can closing machine adapted to seal a fibre can cover onto abre can body by an interfolding of parts thereof with an interposedthermoplastic adhesive, said cover having a dispensing opening and ahinged closure element adjacent thereto, the combination of a chuck, alifter plate for supporting and for raising a can to be closed intoengagement with said chuck, pivoted squeezer jaws for squeezing parts ofthe can and of the cover into engagement with said chuck to produce aseam, devices for moving said squeezer jaws along a path of travel whichis parallel with said can, a cam for shifting said squeezer jaws intoseam producing position while moving parallel with sid cam, yieldablemeans for holding said jaws in engagement with said cam, meanssurrounding said chuck and said squeezer jaws for heatlng'the can partsand the adhesive therebetween,""instrumentalities for moving said chuckand said lifter plate in unison to remove` the closed can from' itsposition adjacent said squeezer jaws, and means carried by said chuckand adapted to enter the dispensing opening 'of said cover for holdingsaid hinged closure element out of engagement with the cover while thelatter vis being seamed to said can body.

JOHN M. HOTHERSALL.

